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finished a pole boom for my tractor- made w/ 3"x 3"x 1/4" tubbing using a chop saw & o/a torch - miserable task w/ all the angles. i decided i needed a plasma cutter . I mostly work w/ 1/4" - 3/4" m. steel. I need a nice cut up to 1/2" and a cut no worst than a o/a torch w/ 5/8"- 3/4" material - been looking @ millers spectrum 325, thermal dynamics cutmaster 38, esab 550. lincoln's pro cut 25 appears not to compete w/ above? what is the effect of stand-off vs drag. can buy the promo 325 for $1185 or esab 550 for $1391 to my door (dont have a price on td cutmaster 38 ) i hate to ask all these ? but even if i tested one i wouldnt know good from bad. any suggestions greatly appreicated. just a old old farm boy.
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Plasma
Check prices for consumables. You will be burning some up.
I find that I get a better cut with drag (following a pattern)
But blowback in heavy iron becomes an issue.
Try before you buy.Wood-N-Steel -
I test drove the miller 375 and the 625 last week, and I'm here to tell you, the 375 is JUNK for anything past 3/16". It struggled through 1/4" plate. It was pretty pathetic. The 625 is much much better, going through 1/2" plate fairly quickly. I didn't try the 625 on anything thicker, but it'd probably do it...........slowly.Comment
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MIKER.........WELL JUNK.........HMMMM KINDA STRONG WORDS...THE 375 WILL CUT 5/16 AND THAT IS WHAT IT IS RATED FOR........ IT WILL SEVER IN MY OPINION (I'VE DONE IT) UP TO 1/2 INCH. I DID SOME RAILING WITH ONE......... HOWEVER IT WENT MUCH FASTER WHEN I USED THE 625...........AS MANY HAVE STATED BEFORE...........KEEP IN MIND HERE YOUR COMPAREING A 115 VOLTS MACHINE AND A 230 VOLTS MACHINE.......... IF THE LINE SAGS ALSO DOES YOUR OUTPUT............. WE EVEN MAKE SOME THAT RUN ON 460/575 VOLTS.......... WHEN WE COMPARE WE SHOULD COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES............... BE SAFE NOW.............ROCK................
[email protected]Comment
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This is my First post on this forum. I have been reading posts here for a couple months, and gleaned much good information.
I have to agree with "HOBART EXPERT ROCK". I recently got a bid for a bunch of aluminum guards for equipment at several wastewater plants. I thought about my old "Sawzall ", forget about that!! and went looking at plasma cutters. After talking to my local dealer, I settled on the Miller Spectrum 375 as the best for my needs. I set it up to run on 230 volts. With the stand off rolling against a clamped on piece of angle iron the the cut on either 1/8" or 1/4" aluminum sheet looks like it was sheared. I've also cut 1/4" 316 stainless, and 3/8" hot rolled steel. The latter was kind of rough, but I think that was more my shakey hands, more than the torch.
If you buy a plasma machine, be sure to get the "Motor guard" filter unit. I also added a water seperating filter ahead of the motor guard to increase filter element life. I also put gages on the inlet and outlet of the filter to tell when the element needs replacing.
Again this is a very enjoyable forum.
JimJim
From the depths of the"Magic Garage"Comment
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Jim, What do you mean by "put guages on both side of the filter? What kind of guages and to measure what?
BobComment
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Bob:
I installed 0-100 Psi guages on the inlet and on the outlet of the filter assembly. I run about 80 PSI supply air to the unit. There is about a 5 PSI drop accross the filter. I figure if the drop increases to about 10 PSI, I can inspect or replace the element. I have a coalescing filter on the output of my compressor. I haven't seen any moisture in my pre filter bowl yet. I hope this means lon life for my motorguard filter.
JimJim
From the depths of the"Magic Garage"Comment
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Hmmm....ok....I have been looking for a flow rate meter to put on the outlet side. It seemed to me that the psi might drop a little but the flow rate (CFM) would be what changed drastically......I could be all wrong on this.....God knows I am wrong once in awhile....just ask my wife....no wait.....she says I am always wrong....ugh....Oh well....
BobComment
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Bob;
There's a formula that I can't remember now that takes the square root of the pressure differential and translates to flow in CFM.
I think that the important thing is if on my Spectrum 375 if I have 60 PSi on the regulator when cutting I'm ok. If I get an excessive pressure drop accros the filter due to a dirty element I can catch it before any problems.
JimJim
From the depths of the"Magic Garage"Comment
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Rock,It seem like you might have another guy to deal with, that is blunt like me(MikeR)
Widetrackman,The Esab 550 is a pretty good little unit.(Sweden)My friend at the welding store sells alot of them,and they seem to hold up.It's a 35 amp machine with a very small torch that is real small,and nice.I really think the other ones for 0.50 is too small.If you do alot of expanded metal it is not a good pick.It does not have pilot arc,only hi voltage start.It cuts the same as the older 500 I model(American)That was a pretty good unit also,but more money.So Esab dropped that one.I used the 500 I alot,and I liked it.Here is one maybe to gamble on?
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hey guys i think my wallet goin get hurt, was really instressed in the m375 promo @ $1185 , but its starting to look the 375 is marginal for my use. the 625 or a comparable brand ( $1600 + ) is what i'm goin need. what about Thermal dynamics cut master 50 ? any web sites selling them ? ----- Heck' mabey Rocks got a promo comming up after 6/14 on the 625Comment
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widetrackman, It would be foolish to compare all but the one that made plasma a working process, check out hypertherm.
work safe, always wear your safety glasses.
Edward HeimbachComment
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Plasma cutters
I know this is a Hobart site but after buying many plasma cutters and owning three right now I can tell you if you are not giving serious consideration to Hypertherm you are missing the boat, I have yet to see any cutter that cuts as well and has as good consumible lifeComment
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Shotgun,My new 90 amp Esab with their new style PT-32 is a really long lasting setup.I been blasting away at a lot of steel at 90 amps,and I have not seen any electrode wear yet.I do know one thing,I am getting a cleaner cut then my friend with a cnc plasma.His machine is a Hyperthem 100 amp unit.His is nice,but you need three phase,and a truck to move it.The new Thermal hand held torch on a guys 150 amp Thermal machine is really doing about the best of any torches out there on consumble life.The other companys have caught Hyperthem in consumble life,and of course they all had pretty good machines to start with.Comment
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Re: Plasma cutters
Shotgun, have you compared the Hypertherm 380 to the Miller 375? Just wondering what you thought?Originally posted by shotgun
I know this is a Hobart site but after buying many plasma cutters and owning three right now I can tell you if you are not giving serious consideration to Hypertherm you are missing the boat, I have yet to see any cutter that cuts as well and has as good consumible life
BobComment
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